GIANT ANTEATER Myrmecophaga tridactyla FAUNA PARAGUAY

Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Material on this page was provided by Paul Smith, Alberto Esquivel, Sergio Rios and Hugo del Castillo and is used with their permission.

GIANT ANTEATER Myrmecophaga tridactyla
Smith P 2007 - FAUNA Paraguay Handbook of the Mammals of Paraguay Number 2 Giant Anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla
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The Giant Anteater (or Jurumí) is a truly remarkable creature whose diet consists entirely of ants and termites. He is armed with massive claws on the forefeet (an adaptation to help him break into the brick-like termite mounds), a long nose (which he sticks into the hole he creates) and a long, sticky tongue (to lick up his prey). The desperate termites jump to the defence of their colony inflicting painful bites on the Anteaters tongue such that it can only feed for a short while before the pain becomes unbearable and it must move on to the next colony. This process acts to ensure that a single Anteater does not wipe out entire colonies, and is a lesson in sustainable harvesting that many humans could learn from!
Click on the images to enlarge them.

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FIGURE 1 - (FPMAM1020PH) Adult lateral, Tres Gigantes, Departamento Alto Paraguay (Paul Smith July 2011).
FIGURE 2 - (FPMAM1021PH) Same individual as (FPMAM1020PH) frontal (Paul Smith July 2011).
FIGURE 3 - (FPMAM1022PH) Same individual as (FPMAM1020PH) feeding (Paul Smith July 2011).
FIGURE 4 - (FPMAM1023PH) Same individual as (FPMAM1020PH) head detail (Paul Smith July 2011).
FIGURE 5 - (FPMAM1024PH) Same individual as (FPMAM1020PH) sleeping (Paul Smith July 2011).
FIGURE 6 - (FPMAM1188PH) Adult, Ruta Concepción to Vallemí, Departamento Concepción (Sergio Rios July 2016).
FIGURE 7 - (FPMAM30PH) Adult, PN Tinfunque, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Alberto Esquivel August 2003).
FIGURE 8 - (FPMAM31PH) Head detail same individual (Alberto Esquivel August 2003).
FIGURE 9 - (FPMAM32PH) Adult, El Carmen (Hugo del Castillo undated).
FIGURE 10 - (FPMAM33PH) Captive individual, Atinguy, Departamento Misiones (Hugo del Castillo undated).
FIGURE 11 - (FPMAM34PH) Roadkill, Ruta Trans Chaco km600, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith July 2006).
FIGURE 12 - (FPMAM35PH) Detail of the forefoot of the same specimen (Paul Smith July 2006).
FIGURE 13 - (FPMAM36PH) Detail of the hindfoot of roadkill specimen (Paul Smith September 2007).
FIGURE 14 - (FPMAM37PH) Footprint, PN Teniente Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith July 2006).
FIGURE 15 - (FPMAM1019PH) Dung, Tres Gigantes, Departamento Alto Paraguay (Paul Smith July 2011).
VIDEO A - (FPMAM1025VI) Adult feeding, Tres Gigantes, Departamento Alto Paraguay (Paul Smith July 2011).
VIDEO B - (FPMAM1026VI) Adult feeding head close up, Tres Gigantes, Departamento Alto Paraguay (Paul Smith July 2011).